“The story indicates that Jesus had been informed earlier that Lazarus, his friend had been sick. But Jesus delayed, hence the death of Lazarus before His arrival.”
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John 11:1-46. Luke 19:1-40; 5:1-10.
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him , but Mary sat still in the house.
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. John 11:20-22.
The eleventh chapter of the Gospel of Apostle John, the beloved, contains a story of the death of Lazarus. Yes, that righteous man called Lazarus was confirmed dead. He would have been stinking having died four days earlier, before Jesus arrived to the city of Bethany where he and his family which included Mary and Martha lived.
The story indicates that Jesus had been informed earlier that Lazarus, his friend had been sick. But Jesus delayed, hence the death of Lazarus before His arrival. So the saying by Martha, that, if Jesus had come earlier her brother would not have died, was indeed a mild rebuke of Jesus to have delayed in coming to the rescue of Lazarus. The second statement could pass for a after thought, perhaps, to avoid being accused of faithlessness.
Yet, Martha doesn’t need to be blamed because she was being human like anyone of us. Whereas, she has seen Jesus perform signs and wonders previously, including turning water into wine, giving sight to the blind and making the lame to walk among others, it would not have occurred to her that her family would benefit from one of the GREATEST miracles of Jesus.
Yet, that is what happens when Master Jesus arrives in your life, your home and marriage, your Ministry and career as well as business and a whole lot of other pursuits. He gives hope. He rekindles life and purpose, even when they appear fading and waning.
The devil brought pain, gloom , sadness and death to the family of Lazarus. He brought wastage, stagnation and lack of progress to the family. A family plagued by death and disease would hardly make progress, as so many families and individuals are going through today.
Imagine Lazarus bound hands and legs in the grave. And suddenly, the Master surfaces in the scene. Then the narrative changes. Don’t forget that the family went to seek out Jesus. Those who are sick seek for the physician, according to the Scriptures.
The sad reality is that several families and individuals sometimes see Jesus walk pass them without making a move to CONNECT with Him. Let not you matter be like that. Don’t be too busy for Jesus. You don’t have all eternity to welcome the arrival of the Master.
In Luke 19:1-40, a man called Zaccheus, an acclaimed tax collector and hated by the Jewry, encountered Jesus. His profession pitts him at odds with his people because he is believed to be working for Romans- the oppressors of the Jews at that time. Above all , these tax officials are corrupt, as we have them today, because they take brides and over value their own compatriots in favor of Ceasar of Rome.
But Zaccheus knew that he needed something that MONEY, INFLUENCE and POWER could not buy. He needed the arrival of the Master in his life.
He took away the PRIDE and arrogance associated with his position in the society to come and look for Jesus. It’s also possible that he climbed the Sycamore tree because he wanted to shun public ridicule by the Jewry, who could mob, mock or verbally abuse him because of their hatred for his employers. But whatever it was, he took courage to face the challenge in order to see Master Jesus. And his efforts paid off. Jesus who knows our sorrows, came to the tree which Zaccheus had climbed to have a good view of Him, and beckoned on him to come down because SALVATION had come to his house. This is indeed a demonstration of Jesus’ compassion, mercy and grace upon the perishing world. The arrival of Jesus in the life of a man alters the narrative. The merciful Jesus!
Nobody taught Zaccheus about RESTITUTION, but he was determined to do it. Nobody taught him about REPENTANCE, yet he was ready to repent. Suddenly, the man who was just hours before a social scorn and Satan incarnate, became a saint approved of God.
Today, only if you will humble yourself as Zaccheus did, your story will change. The Bible says, Jesus bore our sins that He would save us from all unrighteousness. Zaccheus understood the divine exchange that happened on the Cross of Calvary– and cash- in on it to obtain a better profit — far more than all his riches made in sin and ungodliness as a tax official. Jesus arrived in the life of Zaccheus for a new lease of life, a fresh air, an abundant life. Yes, he got a life which has its foundation and existential glory in God the Father. His arrival in the life and business of men changes their story for GOOD.
In Luke 5:1-10, Jesus encounters Peter and his team at the fishing port of Jericho. He pleaded with them to assist him with their boat so that He could preach to the people from there. Nobody can claim not have something that can add value to the gospel. Many who say salvation is free are not wrong. The other side of the coin is the fact that the gospel runs on wheels provided by human beings. Such wheels run on cost.
Peter therefore provided that human wheel required to push the gospel to all men and in all lands. As a believer, what is the value you are adding to the GOSPEL?
Peter donated his boat to Jesus. And Jesus spoke to the multitudes from that boat. And the people were blessed. And Jesus was also happy. To reciprocate Peter’s kind gesture, Jesus asked Peter to launch his nets to the deep for a catch. It is not known why Peter launched one net when the command was .. nets. But it’s Peter’s response to Jesus’ command that is more interesting. Hear him:
“And Simon answering said unto him , Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless, at thy word, I will let down the net”. Luke 5:5.
It was good that Simon Peter after educating Jesus of their fruitless labor swallowed his professional ego and knowledge to let down his net for another attempt. Now hear the testimony.
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their net brake. v6.
After this incident, Peter and his brethren became fishers of men. They got salvation which Jesus only can give. They became involved in the pursuit of loftier issues of life.. winning souls and developing men for the kingdom business. But for a start, Jesus rewarded them for availing him the use of their boat for the propagation of the gospel.
Jesus did so to let men know that he does not use and dump people. Many who detest God’s work claim that there is not enough earthly gain therefrom. But that is a lie from the pit of hell. Jesus was to set Peter and his brethren on another pedestal in life and destiny. A bunch of ordinary and unschooled people, as at the time Jesus encountered them, emerged to be men who turned the world upside down. And whose stories we are reading today.
As it is, so many people are still sitting on the fence, awaiting when things will push them to ministry in fulfilment of God’s purpose for their lives. God may not be interested in doing that to you, after He has given you clear mandate to : Go, Preach the gospel.
Some also want God to do them the Apostle Paul’s example in Acts 9. You may wait for eternity because God has different ways to catch men.
God told Jeremiah (1:1-10) that He had known him from the womb, and has anointed him to be a prophet among the NATIONS. Could that be your condition. Don’t delay.
Yet, we must not fail to remind ourselves again of what happened between Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4. For a woman that had been involved in multiple marriages, her encounter with Jesus would have left her battered in misery, distress, pain, agony and regret. That encounter would have brought her greater sin burden. But Jesus gave her pardon and forgiveness of her sins. And pointed her to heaven wherein God Himself is judge of all flesh. And before whom everybody will appear to account for all the things they had done in this life– whether they were good or evil Has Jesus arrived at your life and situation for a change of narrative? Do it today. Tomorrow can, in fact, be too late. Happy Sunday. God bless.
ABOUT THE PREACHER
Pastor Okoro is a revivalist and marriage counselor. He can be reached on:
08051000462.
©All Bible references are from KJV, except otherwise stated.
October 9, 2022.
